EU lashes out at Iran president’s latest outrage

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Dec. 08 – Britain, who currently holds the European Union’s rotating Presidency, condemned on Thursday remarks by hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejecting that the Holocaust had taken place and calling for Israel to be moved to Europe. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Dec. 08 – Britain, who currently holds the European Union’s rotating Presidency, condemned on Thursday remarks by hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rejecting that the Holocaust had taken place and calling for Israel to be moved to Europe.

While in Saudi Arabia for talks with leaders of fellow Muslim countries, Ahmadinejad on Thursday said, “Some European countries insist on saying that [Adolf”> Hitler killed millions of innocent Jews in furnaces and they insist on it to the extent that if anyone proves something contrary to that they condemn that person and throw them in jail”, adding, “If the Europeans are honest they should give some of their provinces in Europe — like in Germany, Austria or other countries — to the Zionists and the Zionists can establish their state in Europe. You offer part of Europe and we will support it”, according to the Reuters news agency.

The British embassy in Tehran issued a statement on behalf of the EU denouncing the Iranian president’s comments as “wholly unacceptable”.

The EU said that Iran was “unique” in its opposition to the Arab-Israeli peace process.

In October, Ahmadinejad told an “anti-Zionist” gathering that Israel must be “wiped of the map” and threatened Muslim nations that develop ties with the Jewish state. His comments drew outrage across the world and were condemned at the United Nations.

“Six weeks ago, President Ahmadinejad’s call for Israel to be ‘wiped from the map’ was condemned by countries across the world, as well as by Kofi Annan and the United Nations Security Council. It was rejected by the Palestinians themselves. Iran is unique in opposing a resolution to the Arab-Israel dispute based on the principle of two states living side-by-side in peace and security”.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw urged Tehran to cease its support to groups who want to “undermine” the two-state solution with violence.

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan reacted to Ahmadinejad’s comments by saying that it “further underscores” concerns about the regime in Iran. “It’s all the more reason why it’s so important that the regime not have the ability to develop nuclear weapons”.